Transcript Vocational Rehabilitation and the New Ticket to Work Program

Vocational Rehabilitation
And
The New Ticket to Work
Program
Presenters
Harold Thornton,
TACE Consultant
Elizabeth Jennings,
National Disability Institute
March 31, 2009
Learning Objectives
Participants will acquire a basic understanding
of:
 Impact of new Ticket to Work Regulations
 Administrative Requirements of the Program
 Data and systems requirements
 Key Functions, Staff roles and responsibilities
 Importance of Quality Assurance
 How to Maximize SSA Program Income
2
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
The Ticket to Work Program

Purpose of the TTW Program

Goal of the TTW Program

Program Performance – 2002-2007
3
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Tickets Issued to SSA
Beneficiaries as of April 2008

Nationally - 10,624,709

Regionally - 2,449,597 23.1% of Total
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TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Tickets Assigned as of April
2008
Nationally:


State VR Agencies –
187,935 (93.34%)
Employment Networks 13,360 (6.66%)
Regionally:

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State VR Agencies –
39,573 (93.7%)
Employment Networks –
2,674 (6.3%)
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TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
SSA Program Income for VR
Nationally $124,238,549.09
Regionally $21,155,991.50 – 17%
of Total Income
6
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Amendments to SSA
Regulations
Affecting Beneficiaries:

ALL Beneficiaries age 18 – 64 receive a Ticket, including
those previously ineligible due to Medical Improvement
Expected status

SSA has restructured the TTW Program to provide for a
more incremental process for achieving self-sufficiency
employment

Part-time employment is now viewed to be progress
toward self-sufficiency
7
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Amendments to SSA
Regulations
Affecting Beneficiaries (cont.):

More opportunities for beneficiaries to stabilize in
employment and reduce their dependence on SSA cash
benefits on a more permanent basis

Provides for critical ongoing supports

More flexible standards for making timely progress

Assignment of Ticket or Ticket in “In Use” Status
continues to provide suspension of Continuing Medical
Disability Review
8
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Amendments to SSA
Regulations
Affecting Employment Networks:
 Enhanced EN Payment System
 From 40 to 60% of PCB
 More than 4 milestone payments
 5% increase in Total Outcome Payments
 Parity in Payments for SSI and SSDI
9
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Amendments to SSA
Regulations
Affecting Employment Networks (cont):
 Competition alleviated between ENs and
SVRA
 EN can serve Ticket-holders subsequent
to being served by SVRA
 One Stops/ Workforce Boards (WFBs) and
Native American Projects automatically
qualified as ENs
10
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Amendments to SSA
Regulations
Affecting State VR Agencies:



Enhanced EN Payment system provides greater
opportunity for SSA program income and a more
efficient payment system
Provides real opportunities for partnerships
Provides opportunity to create systemic long
term supports after case closure; increasing
cost reimbursement, community collaboration
and beneficiary success
11
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Planning for Success


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
Identifying key functions
Organizing key functions and placement
within organization
Staffing key functions
Identifying Data and Systems Requirements
Development and implementation of Policies,
Procedures and Processes
Evaluating Program and System
Performance
12
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Key Functions





Overall Program Administration
Claims/Payment Processing
Registration of Ticket Status
Records/Data Management
Quality Assurance
13
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Finding a Place for TTW in
Your Organization
Consider
 Projected Workload
 Projected Revenues
 Centralized vs. Decentralized System
 Size of organization
 Work and Information Flow
 Interaction with field staff
 Interaction with Fiscal Systems and Staff
 Appropriated Budget vs. Estimated Expenses
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TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Staff Roles & Responsibilities
Centralized or Decentralized System
 Program Administrator
 Claims / Payment Processor
 Ticket Administration Coordinator
 Quality Assurance Coordinator
15
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Staff Roles & Responsibilities


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Consumer Orientation and Education
Development, Execution and Coordination of
Partnerships (MOA/MOU)
Coordination of WIPA Referrals
Preparation and Submission of SSA Form
1365 (Ticket Assignment request)
Staff Training
16
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Data and System
Requirements

Identification of Consumers who are SSA
Beneficiaries



Identification of consumers who are Ticketeligible


Verification of SSA Benefits via local SSA Office
State Verification and Exchange System (SVES)
MAXIMUS CD of Ticket-holders
Registration of Ticket Activation/Case Closure
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TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Data and System
Requirements (cont.)

Tracking Employment and Wage Data





UI Data
Earnings Inquiry Requests
The Work Number
Employer Requests
Maintenance of Claims and Payment Data
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TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
TTW Policies and Procedures
Based on:
 SSA Regulations - Section 411
 Chapter 12 – SSA Provider Operations
Manual
 Transmittal 29
 RSA Policies
 State VR Agency Policies
 State Fiscal Policies
19
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Quality Assurance “The
Money Net”
Should focus on:
 Compliance with Laws, Regulations and
Policies
 Observing Consumer Rights and Benefits
 Conformance to Consumer Expectations
 Achieving Organizational Goals, Objectives
and Performance Expectations
20
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Program and System
Performance Expectations


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Successful Outcomes for Consumers leading
to Self-Sufficiency
Being the State leader in the administration of
the Program
Maximizing SSA Program Income
21
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Establishing System Controls

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Controls for Data Integrity
Controls to ensure productivity
Controls to ensure quality
Controls for efficiency
Controls for fiscal accountability
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TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Effectively Using the Payment
Systems
Traditional Cost Reimbursements
 Vocational Goal is to engage in Competitive
Employment that will extend to 9 months
within a 12 month period and earn over SGA
level of earnings ($980/month after
Impairment Related Work Expenses
(IRWEs)).
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TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Effectively Using the Payment
Systems (cont.)
EN Payments
Vocational Goal is employment that will result
in earnings at or above the Trial Work Level
(currently $700/month) for at least one or
more milestone periods




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2 weeks
3 months
6 months
9 months
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Effectively Using the Payment
Systems (cont.)
Other factors to consider:
 Part Time vs. Full Time Employment Goal
 Educational Goal
 High Wages vs. Low Wages
 Number of Previous Cases
 Severity of Disability
 Projected Cost of Case
 Age
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TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Effectively Using the Payment
Systems (cont.)
Other Program Requirements
 Must make the decision at time IPE is being
initiated
 Traditional Cost Reimbursement Cases will
be placed ‘In Use’
 EN Payment Cases will be ‘Assigned’
26
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Additional resources
MAXIMUS Website - www.yourtickettowork.com
Social Security Administration – www.ssa.gov
27
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Questions…
Harold Thornton, Florida Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation
Email: [email protected]
Elizabeth Jennings, National Disability Institute
Email: [email protected]
28
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
THANK YOU!
29
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
TACE Center: Region IV
Toll-free: (866) 518-7750 [voice/tty]
Fax: (404) 541-9002
Web: TACEsoutheast.org
My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportal
Email: [email protected]
30
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Education Credits
Participants may be eligible for CEU and CRCC credits.

CEU Credit – Pending Approval (.15)



Site Coordinators must distribute the CEU form to participants
seeking CEU credit on the day of the webinar.
Site coordinators must submit CEU form to the TACE Center:
Region IV by fax (404) 541-9002 by Friday, April 3, 2009.
CRCC Credit (1.5 per session)

By Friday, April 3, 2009, participants must score 80% or better
on a online Post Test and submit an online CRCC Request
Form via the MyTACE Portal.
My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportal
31
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer
This presentation was developed by the
TACE Center: Region IV ©2009 with funds from the
U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation
Services Administration (RSA) under the priority of
Technical Assistance and Continuing Education
Projects (TACE) – Grant #H264A080021. However,
the contents of this presentation do not necessarily
represent the policy of the RSA and you should not
assume endorsement by the Federal Government
[34 CFR 75.620 (b)].
32
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved
Copyright Information
This work is the property of the TACE Center:
Region IV.
Permission is granted for this material to be
shared for non-commercial, educational
purposes, provided that this copyright
statement appears on the reproduced materials
and notice is given that the copying is by
permission of the authors. To disseminate
otherwise or to republish requires written
permission from the authors.
33
TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute.
Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2009 All Rights Reserved